A man slit his girlfriend’s throat Monday in Valencia County, New Mexico State Police said.

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Police said the crime was reported in Tome, which is south of Los Lunas.

Michael Rodriguez, the victim’s boyfriend, was arrested.

Neighbors say they saw Rodriguez, 19, and an area homeowner playing football in the yard earlier in the day, even helping neighbors with yard work. But they say they didn't know anything about the victim, who state police have identified as Marianna Barnes-Lucero.

“They had left with some girl,” said Los Lunas resident Jada Martinez. “I’ve never seen her before, and they left and came back, and then later on that night the cops came and knocked on our door.”

Barnes-Lucero leaves behind a 1-year-old son.

Court documents show Rodriguez was arrested on New Year’s Eve, accused of beating the same woman. A friend had called police to report Rodriguez was choking and beating his girlfriend, according to the criminal complaint. Officers say the woman's face was swollen and she was covered in blood, but she denied the abuse.